Bioactivity and Catalytic Reduction of Aryl Nitro-Compounds by Biosynthesized Silver Nanoparticles using Skimmiaanquetilia

The green synthesis of silver nanoparticles is a rapid and environmentally friendly technique (AgNPs). Silver ions are bioreduced into AgNPs by a compound found in Skimmiaanquetilia's aqueous leaf extract, which consists primarily of alkaloids and coumarins. AgNPs were synthesized and characterized by multiple techniques, including ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared analysis, scanning electron microscopy with X-ray energy dispersive (EDX) investigation, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results demonstrated that the AgNPs are highly effective in inhibiting the growth of Escherichia coli. The scavenging activity and hemolysis (2.85 %) of the AgNPs of S. anquetilia leaf extract were also observed and found that the catalyst was useful in the catalytic reduction of aromatic nitro compounds to aromatic amines. NaBH4 was used to catalyse the reduction of nitro compounds by a UV-Visible spectrophotometer, and the reduction rates of compounds like 4-nitrophenol, 2-nitrophenol, 4-nitroaniline, 2-nitroaniline, 4-nitrobenzaldehyde, 2-nitrobenzaldehyde, 4-chloronitrobenzene, and 3-chloronitrobenzene were measured. AgNPs produced from S. anquetilia leaf extract were found to be an effective catalyst for the reduction reaction and to possess potent antibacterial properties. In higher concentrations, AgNPs were found to have greater antioxidant potential than plant extracts.